Press Statement for Immediate Release
ATTACK ON UPND ALIGNED ARTIST HAS NO PLACE IN A DEMOCRACY LIKE ZAMBIA
We would like to condemn in strongest terms possible the attack and subsequent assault of one of our artists, Hosea Mumbi aka Avatar resulting in body injuries.
This spells a dark day for the performing arts in the country. We fear that the levels of violence under the PF, if left unchecked, has the potential to deter other artists from identifying themselves with political establishments of their choice.
The hooliganism and barbarism exhibited by those PF thugs who ransacked Mr Hosea is typical of their pay master, the PF who have failed to condemn, let alone stop its cadres from assaulting, butchering and maiming innocent citizens.
Our artists deserve better. They deserve respect from every well meaning Zambian including those from the ruling party. We can’t have a situation where PF thugs can have the hiatus and impetus to attack an artist right inside his home. This must be stopped forthwith.
The unbecoming culture by the PF is aimed at silencing critical voices as well as suppressing dissenting views.
It is so disappointing and disheartening that the PF has shifted its arsenal for violence from ordinary citizens to such extremes as attacking a musician from his home.
Mr Mumbi, just like any other artist in this country has the freedom to belong to or support any organisation of his choice.
Mr Mumbi doesn’t deserve this kind of treatment from anyone not even those who wield authority in this country, the PF.
We, therefore, call on the Police to swiftly swing into action and bring the perpetrators of this horrendous and heinous crime to book without fail.
We also appeal to every Zambian not only to condemn the PF for the perpetuity of such evil deeds, but also to rally behind President Hakainde Hichilema in the forthcoming general elections so that he can bring back sanity to every sector of our society including that of arts and culture.
Finally, we wish to reiterate our resolve as UPND to prevent the rights of our artists from being raped. We will continue pursuing all civil avenues to ensure that the PF thugs do not get away with such barbaric acts.
Issued by:
Pastor Kangwa Chileshe,
Chairperson for Arts and Culture-UPND.
©️UPND MEDIA TEAM